It turns out there’s a lot that can be packed into a single, integrated all-flash architecture. Start with storage hardware, add compute and network, then throw in virtualization software and the complete package is ready to go.

Cisco Systems Inc.’s partnership with Pure Storage Inc. to bring the power and efficiency of all-flash storage to the data center in an all-flash product called FlashStack is showing promise, at least among developers.

“It’s very fast and easy, and we’ve seen developers cut down 25 to 30 percent of their development time on an SAP or Oracle database,” said Mike Bundy (pictured), head of global strategic alliances at Pure Storage. “It’s drastically different than what they’ve been used to in the past.”

Bundy paid a visit to the set of theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s mobile livestreaming studio, during the Cisco Live event in Barcelona, Spain, and spoke with host Stu Miniman (@stu). They discussed FlashStack’s technology and plans for future enhancements. (* Disclosure below.)

Combining Cisco UCS with flash

FlashStack is a converged infrastructure solution that combines Cisco’s Unified Computing System with flash storage technology. The offering has been in the marketplace for approximately two years and is designed to manage data differently than other storage solutions.

For example, the FlashArray//m10 can be bundled with the Cisco UCS Mini compute and fabric interconnect hardware, coupled with VMware virtualization software. “It’s really an innovative, modernized, converged infrastructure stack,” Bundy said. “It has a very unique value proposition compared to other converged infrastructures in the marketplace.”

The adoption rate has been higher for flash arrays in the United States, but there is growing excitement for them now in Europe, according to Bundy. Cisco and Pure are also looking at finding new use cases for FlashStack in business and artificial intelligence.

“I think you’ll see a much greater density of applications moving onto flash compared with what it was in the past,” Bundy said. “We’ll continue to drive more tools with FlashStack that allow you to easily and rapidly deploy the system itself.”

Watch the complete video interview below, and be sure to check out more of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of Cisco Live Barcelona 2018. (* Disclosure: Cisco Systems Inc. sponsored this segment of theCUBE. Neither Cisco nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE